¹⁸ Now ^(A)the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was ^(B)as ^[a]swift-footed as one of the gazelles that is in the field. ¹⁹ Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn ^[b]to the right or to the left from following Abner. ²⁰ Then Abner looked behind himself and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is I!” ²¹ So Abner said to him, “Turn aside for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his equipment.” But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him. ²² Then Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside for your own good from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? ^(C)How then could I ^[c]show my face to your brother Joab?” ²³ However, he refused to turn aside; so Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came thereafter to the place where ^(D)Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.